Politics
Omirhobo files suit to halt trial of Supreme Court justices
As earlier reported by Ripples Nigeria, a team of lawyers led by rights activist, Chief Malcolm Omirhobo, has filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja to halt the trial of some Supreme Court Justices.
The case allocated suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/46/2017 was filed earlier in the week, as the plaintiffs aver that the trial of the justices, will erode the independence of the judiciary, and make it an appendage of the executive arm of government.
Omirhobo who frowned at the public prosecution of the judicial officers contends that the trials are an orchestrated move by the executive arm of government to arm twist the judiciary into submission, without following due process.
Read also: Lawyers move to halt trial of Supreme Court Justices
Two justices of the Supreme Court, Justices Adeniyi Ademola, his wife and Sylvester Ngwuta are currently facing charges in court after their arrest by the Department of State Security (DSS).
Both men were amongst eight judges who had their homes raided by DSS on suspicion of corruption in the course of their duties.
However, Omirhobo and his team are bent on challenging the legality and morality of the Federal government, as represented by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), to publicly try the members of the bench.
The suit will soon be allocated to a judge, and a date fixed for commencement of hearing.
Chief Omirhobo in an exclusive chat with Ripples Nigeria, had stated that they are in court to determine, among other things, whether the AGF can prosecute a serving Judicial officer for ethical violation and/or Judicial misconduct without having first to refer the allegations and/or charges against such judicial officer to the National Judicial Commission (NJC).
According to him, unless the federal government and the AGF are restrained, more Justices of the superior court “will be frivolously, gratuitously and maliciously attacked and arraigned in court for trial without due process of law and for no just course, and the independence of the Nigerian Judiciary will continue to be eroded by the executive arm of Government”.
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JOHNSON PETER
January 31, 2017 at 8:15 am
No one should halt the justices trial. Let them face the full wrath of the law if they are found guilty and if they are not, they will be exonerated.
Amaka Okoro
February 1, 2017 at 4:06 am
And you think they will find guilty in them when there is corruption to cover every mess that happen
Margret Dickson
January 31, 2017 at 8:47 am
What Omirhobo is fighting for is clear, but, I still don’t understand the need for it. Fighting the federal government for judicial cover over corrupt practices is like supporting corruption. Is he trying to encourage the judges to keep up with the corruption act or trying to make them feel above the law?
Joy Madu
February 1, 2017 at 4:12 am
Corruption is one thing that can not leave this country Nigeria beside judges are the head of corruption and they have to face the law if they descreate the law
Animashaun Ayodeji
January 31, 2017 at 8:51 am
“trial of the justices, will erode the independence of the judiciary,” it is now confirmed that these team of lawyers are not serious. EFCC should also go after them, when those in the judiciary are corrupt, who will make judgement to other corrupt people in the society? In order not to tamper with the independence of the judiciary, so, the government should be looking at them when it is obvious that the judicial system is corrupt? There’s no case here
yanju omotodun
January 31, 2017 at 9:30 am
Don’t mind those idiots. Seem they don’t understand what independence of judicairy means. Independence of judiciary does not gurantee judiciary to be corrupt. These lawyers are disgrace to us.
Amarachi Okoye
February 1, 2017 at 4:03 am
Yes they are because they have sold there heart to corruption and it can never be change
seyi jelili
January 31, 2017 at 11:28 am
But who will help us fight the corrupt executives if the executives are using their power to fight the judiciary. This is purely injustice.
Nonso Ezeugo
February 1, 2017 at 4:00 am
Nobody will fight the corruption because corruption still remain in this country and can never go out